Invited Reviem The Scientific Basis of Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM Functionality as a Probiotic

摘要

Lactobacillus acidoPhilus NCFM is a probiotic strain available in conventional foods (milk, yog'Urt, and tod- dler formula) and dietary supplements. Its commercial availability in the United States since the mid-1970s is predicated on its safety, its amenability to commercial manipulation, and its biochemical and physiological at- tributes presumed to be important to human probiotic functionality. The strain has been characterized in vitro, in animal studies, and in humans. NCFM is the progenitor of the strain being used for complete chromo- some sequencing and therefore will be a cornerstone strain for understanding the relationship between ge- netics and probiotic functionality. Both phenotypic and genotypic techniques have verified its taxonomic status as a type A1 L. acidophilus strain. It adheres to Caco- 2 and mucus-secreting HT-29 cell culture systems, pro- duces antimicrobial compounds, and is amenable to ge- netic manipulation and directed DNA introduction. NCFM survives gastrointestinal tract transit in both healthy and diseased populations. NCFM inhibits aber- rant crypt formation in mutagenized rats, indicative of activity that could decrease the risk of colon cancer. A blend of probiotic strains containing NCFM decreased the incidence of pediatric diarrhea. NCFM led to a sig- nificant decrease in levels of toxic amines in the blood of dialysis patients with small bowel bacterial over- growth. At adequate daily feeding levels, NCFM may facilitate lactose digestion in lactose-intolerant sub- jects. Further validation of the probiotic properties of NCFM in humans and clarification of its mechanisms of probiotic action are needed to better understand the role this strain might play in promoting human health.